Memorial for Kent teacher set for Saturday

A celebration of life service for Stacy Ankerfelt begins at 1 p.m. Saturday at Auburn Riverside High School, 501 Oravetz Road.

Ankerfelt died Aug. 20 from injuries after being struck by a car near her Auburn home on July 19.

As students at Kent's Scenic Hill Elementary returned to class after the long summer break last week, some were met by the tragic news of Ankerfelt's death.

Additional counselors were made available to students.

Principal Dani Pfeiffer sent home a letter to parents a week before school began, informing them of the news and offering them tips about how to handle the issue with students.

"We suggest that you talk about this situation with your son or daughter and keep an eye out for any symptoms of emotional distress such as sleep difficulties or unusual mood swings," Pfeiffer wrote in the letter.

Ankerfelt taught fifth grade at the school.

According to the principal, the school plans to develop a program called "Ankerfelt Spirit," where students exemplifying Ankerfelt's approach to life are celebrated with an "A" award.

The man who hit Ankerfelt, Samuel Cruz, had the charges against him amended Aug. 27 from vehicular assault to vehicular homicide, with bail now set at $250,000.

Cruz pleaded not guilty to the state's charge that he was driving under the influence of drugs. He appears again in court for a case-setting hearing on Sept. 11.

Contact Kent Reporter News Tracey Compton at tcompton@kentreporter.com or 425-255-3484.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.